Revolving book-supporter.



Nu; 700,523. 1 Patented May 20,- I902.

S; A. MANUEL & "J. R. NOTTINGHAM.

REVOLVING BOOK SUPPOBTEB.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1902.

(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-S bset 2.

} "W"! .L. w 1 l UNITED STATES T PATENT FFIQE SILAS A. MANUEL AND JULIAN R. NOTTINGHAM, OF WASHINGTON, DIS: TRIOT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH TO RICHARD J. EARNSHAW, OF VVASI-IINGTON,,DISTRIOT,OF COLUMBIA.

REVOLVING BOOK-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 700,523, dated May 20,1902. l l

' Application filed rebrwy 25, 1902. Serial No. 95,550. (No model-l To all whom) it may con/eerie: l e Be it knownthat we, SILAS A. MANUEL and JULIAN R. NOTTINGHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, inthe District of Columbia, have invented certain;

new and useful Improvements in-Revolving Book-Supporters; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled-in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates in general .to a revolving book supporter or holder, but more particularly co-certain novel features of adjustability by means ofwhichdifierent sizes of books may be supported and held in open position, with their leaves protected from injury incident to the frequent handling in using the book; and it consists, essentially, of the peculiar construction and novel arrangement of the various parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly stated in the claims.

The invention isespecially designed to support and hold a hotel-register, although it will be evident that the device is equallyap-n plicable for supporting and holding other books that require when in use to be turned about, andoneof the principal objects of the invention is to produce a device of this character of the simplest and'eheapestform consistent with durability and effectiveness in use.

Other objects of the invention; such. as providing adjustable means to accommodate the support to difierent-size books, will become apparent upon a further description thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of our improved book-supporter, showing a book in-dotted'lines supported thereon; Fig. 2, aside elevation; Fig.3,- a central transverse section; Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the extensible slides andleaf-holding attachments; -Fig. 5, a modified form of the leaf holding attachment, and Fig. 6 a modified form of extensible slide and slidable leafholder.

In the several views the letter a indicates a suitable base provided with a central aperture a, in which is j ournaled the ar'm'b of the book-rest b. The book-rest preferably consets of twoleaves or -.plates) b separated a sufficient distance apart to form a depression 11 for the reception of the backof the book a to be supported and joined together by connecting pieces 19 preferably cast integral with the leaves orplates b the central con- -.necting-piece being provided with the journal arm or pivot 11. The book-rest b is mounted upon-the base in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to support the'book in the most convenient position for writing, and in order to adapt the device for supporting difierent sizes of books we provideeachleaf b preferably the under surface,-with up-- of the slide 0 rectangular and the lrod c to correspond therewith, so as to prevent said rod. turning in the slide, thesame obj ect may be accomplished by makingboth the bore of the 'slide and the rodv round and providing said rod with a pin'adapted to project through a longitudinalslot in said slide, the slot being of sufficient length to allow for a proper extension of the leaf-holder.

In operationthe book is placed upon the support with the back in the depression between the leaves 17 bringing'the covers of the book fiat uponysaidleaves, 1 The leafholders are then placed inpcsition to rest upon the leaves of the book at the respective corners thereof. As thus supported the book is held in open position, with the corners of the leaves protected from injury.

When it is desired to turntheleavesbf the hotel-regi'sterbr "other book, 'all thatgis required to be done is toiremOyelthellaf ll l ers, which is accomplished by pulling out the rod 0 carrying saidleaf-holders. Where large books are to be supported, the Slides 0 are adjusted by pulling them out a distance ing the most desirable points at which to hold down the leaves, as writing in the book will not be interfered with thereby.

The adjustable feature of the two lower leaf-holders may be obtained by other means than the slidable rod c such, for instance, as pivoting the leaf-holders directly upon the ends of the slides c, as shown in Fig. 5. When thus constructed, they may be readily moved to clamp the leaves and be removed therefrom, as the lower edge of the book is always flush with the corresponding edge of the supporter; but to provide for increased length of books it will of course be necessary to employ the extensible leaf-holder at the upper part of the supporter.

The book-rest b may be either constructed of cast or sheet metal, but it constructed of the latter metal a depression of sufficient width must be made in the center to accommodate or receive the back of the book. If desired,the book-rest may be materiallylightened by casting or stamping it in skeleton form.

Other forms of leaf-holding arms which exert a constant pressure may be employed with out sacrificing the principle of our invention or departing from the scope thereof.

The device being especially adapted for supporting hotel-registers the many advantages of our invention will be readily apparcut and duly appreciated by those having need for its use, as access can be had to the register from both sides of the counter.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a book-supporter, the combination with a suitable base, of a rest for the book, an extensible slide at each side of the rest, to adapt it to books of different widths, and means carried by the extensible slides for clamping the leaves at the corners thereof, said means being adjustable transversely to said slides.

2. In a book-supporter, the combination with a suitable base, of a rest for the book, an extensible slide at each side of the rest, and spring leaf-clamping devices, carried by the extensible slides and adjustable transversely thereto.

3. In a book-supporter, the combination with a suitable base, of a rest for the book, an extensible slide at each side of the rest, an adjustable leaf-clarnping device slidable in the upper end of each extensible slide, and a leaf'clamping device carried at the lower end of'each extensible slide.

4. In a book-supporter, the combination with a suitable base, of a rest for the book, an extensible slide at each side of the rest, and an adjustable leaf-clamping device slidable in the upper and lower end of each extensible slide, whereby books of different lengths may be supported, and the lower edge of the book brought close to the surface of the object upon which the device is placed.

5. In a book-supporter, the combination with a suitable base, of a rest for the book, an extensible slide at each side of the rest, said slides consisting of a rectangularly-bored tube provided with arms adapted to slide in guideways on the rest, and leaf-clamping devices carried by the extensible slides and adjustable transversely thereto.

6. In a book-supporter, the combination with a suitable base, of a rest for the book, an extensible slide at each side of the rest, said slides consisting of a rectangularly-bored tube having arms adapted to slide in guideways on the rest, and spring leaf-clamping devices having arms slidable in the ends of the extensible slides.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

SILAS A. MANUEL. JULIAN R. NOTTINGHAM.

Witnesses:

GUY E. PADGETT,

JVELYN PADGET'I. 

